BBM Coming To iOS and Android

grub writes writes with news that BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins has announced that BBM (BlackBerry Messenger, one of the favorite features of BlackBerry device-owners) will soon be coming to rival mobile operating systems. Devices running iOS 6 and Android ICS or later will be supported, pending approval with the App Store and Google Play. "BBM uses carrier data networks to pass secure messages back and forth through its servers to other BlackBerry users. The service recently gained the ability to make phone calls, conduct video chats and even share screen tops with other BBM users (requires BlackBerry 10). Normal chat and group chats will be the first features to hit the Android and iOS BBM apps, followed by the others (including voice and video) during the course of the year. BBM for Android and iOS will be free." The company also unveiled a new smartphone today: the Q5. It's a budget device intended for emerging markets.

Comments

Re:Excellent!

[Radagast]

Yeah, except more, since ICQ numbers at least had the decency to stick to decimal.

Re:So?

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't feel stuck with my BB10 device at all. It's far better than my last phone, an Android piece of junk that lagged with a horrible, clunky UI and needed to be put on the charger three times a day. It makes the iPhone look like a toy.

Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.

Re:One word: encryption

[Anonymous Coward]

You can set up your own BES and be the sole holder of the encryption key. I suppose some kind of government intrusion is possible (key loggers, cameras pointed at your phone, whatever), but if the government is motivated enough to go that far, you probably shouldn't be using a cell phone to make your secret plans. For the rest of us, it's plenty fine.